Evolution at the α-GPDH Locus in Drosophilidae

• Published in: Evolution 1977-06, Vol.31 (2), p.319-330
• Main Authors: Lakovaara, Seppo, Saura, Anssi, Lankinen, Pekka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Animal genetics; Drosophila; Enzymes; Evolution; Evolutionary genetics; Gels; Genetic loci; Genetic variation; Species
• ISSN: 0014-3820; 1558-5646
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1977.tb01014.x

The variability at the α-GPDH locus in 175 species of the family Drosophilidae has been investigated by using data obtained from enzyme variants in the flies collected from natural populations as well as data presented in literature. With the exception of two species the proportion of flies heterozygous at this locus in populations of different species is in general less than 0.02. The number of principal electrophoretically detectable alleles in the species studied is as many as eleven. The allele α-GPDH104is the most widespread. It occurs as the most common one in 55 species, which belong to different genera, subgenera, group or subgroup of the family. This allele is widespread also geographically, as it is present in the species of five continents. Other principal alleles are more restricted to certaio species or species group of the family or to the species living in the Hawaiian Islands. As the species studied originate from different environmental conditions from the tropics to the subarctic and they occupy widely different ecological niches, it has been concluded that the environment of the flies can not alone select the products of this slowly evolving locus. Stability of metabolism in the ilies seems to be the main factor limiting the polymorphism at this locus.